Travel
[Scary Places in Japan] Toyama’s Hidden Villages of Statues
Hidden in a valley south of Toyama prefecture, just a 30-minute drive from the main city area, lies […]
Culture
[Hidden Wonders of Japan] Kanazawa Carries On Edo-Era Kaga Tobi Firefighter Festival
Sometimes, traditions have hidden histories to uncover. Other times, the origins can be surprisingly obvious and yet
Travel
Aroma Café at Nakameguro Puts Your Day on Pause
Thursday’s Cafe: Fragrant and Heartwarming ‘Moksha Chai’ If there was only one coffee shop I could go to […]
Culture
Ringing in the New Year the Traditional Japanese Way in Kanazawa
Japan does New Year quite differently than other countries. In fact, many people compare Japanese New Year to American
Culture
[Hidden Wonders of Japan] 2-meter Tuna a Day Brings Good Luck This Way
In Western culture, we normally think of the New Year as being the one big “hurrah” between the last […]
Culture
How I Got a Japanese Driver’s License in One Try
Well, actually, I got it in two. First, I had to go to the Japanese equivalent of the […]
Culture
Teaching English in Japan: Going Off-Script in Elementary School
As the clock strikes 8 A.M., Big Ben’s chime rings out through my school’s speaker system to let the students […]
Culture
[Hidden Wonders of Japan] Pray for the New Year with Colorful Mayudama at Kinomiya Shrine
Kinomiya Shrine in Atami, Shizuoka Prefecture, is quite a sight at this time of year. The Shinto priestesses, [&hel
Blog
Yamaguchi, the Hidden Gem of Southern Honshu
When you talk about the best places to go for sightseeing in Japan, a few names come to mind, […]
Culture
[Hidden Wonders of Japan] 2019’s Most-Loved Personalities As Mataro Ningyo Dolls
There is a dollmaker shop in Tokyo’s Naka Okachimachi neighborhood specializing in dolls that serve as charms for the
Culture
Try On the ‘Samue,’ Japanese Work Clothes for Monks — and the Rest of Us
When searching for Japanese-style clothes, many newcomers are at a loss of where to start. Kimono, while luxurious, ca
Blog
[Hidden Wonders of Japan] Daruma for 2020? Why Not a Cute Mouse from Hiratsuka?
Except for the uninitiated, most everyone in Japan will know that daruma is normally a papier maché good luck [&hellip